Going Beyond

“Abby and I had a fight in the parking garage.” Frank sighs and runs a hand through his hair, “Really Abby picked a fight with me over an imaginary problem. It was… insulting, to put it mildly. There's a reason the majority of our communication is through text and we only talk about the kids.” 

“That sounds really hard. I’m sorry that you have to deal with that.”

He glances at her, and because it's Mel he knows she's sincere before he even sees her face. 

“Sometimes I-” The snow is coming down a little heavier now, and as it melts against his skin it covers the tear that slips out his eye. But it can’t cover how his words choke and get stuck in his throat, “Sometimes I think that maybe my kids would be better off without me in their lives.”

“You don't really think that… Do you?”

Frank shrugs, “On the bad days.”

She’s frowning at him, it’s such a severe expression. “As someone who doesn’t have a dad: I promise you that they will always need you.”

He thanks her, but she must doubt his sincerity because she continues on. “My dad had a lot of problems. He saw a lot of things overseas that he didn’t know how to cope with. He probably was on the spectrum and that mixed with PTSD was just… it wasn’t a good combo and he chose to rely on alcohol to numb it away.

“But just because he struggled doesn’t mean that he didn’t love Becca and me. And it doesn’t mean that I love him any less for being human.

“Tanner and Penny are so lucky to have a father like you, Frank Langdon.” She tentatively places a hand on his forearm and gives it a comforting squeeze, “Your kids will always be happier with you in their lives. And one day they’ll understand just how hard you worked for that and they’ll love you even more for it.”

Frank’s heart is thudding against his ribs, threatening to break out as a few tears escape. God what a sucky Thanksgiving but then Mel’s presence and little speech have slammed into his whole being and he’s floating. “Thank you, Mel.” 

Fuck he needs an anchor. He needed it three hours ago and he needs it even more now. The last year has been an exercise in learning to ask for help but he can barely get the words out to ask, “Can I have a hug?” before Mel is pulling him in, her arms around his middle and her head sinking into his chest. 

Frank can’t help curling around her, his arms around her shoulders and tucking his chin over her head and breathing in and out. In and out. … in and out. When he comes back to himself, enough to be aware of just how short she is, how she fits against him in a way that feels so right but is different from Penny and Tanner. He feels the contentment nest in his chest. When he pulls away with a “Thanks.” She simply wishes him a “Happy Thanksgiving, Dr. Langdon.”

“You really should call me Frank. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

She beams at him, “Then Happy Thanksgiving, Frank.” before giving him another quick hug, “I’ve got to get going, you should get inside, it’s freezing out here.” and he watches as she walks away, his heart still beating faster than it should and a little dread sneaking his way into his stomach.

(Ignore Ignore Ignore)

Frank Langdon is well on his way to falling in love with Melissa King.